Automatic attachment for pianos.



PATENTED MAY 31. 1904.

J.- A. SMITH. AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12; 1902. RENEWED 001'. a1. 1903.

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No. 761,419. PATBNTED MAY 31, 1904.

J. A. SMITH. I AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1902. RENEWED OUT. 31. 1903.

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No. 761,419. PATENTED MAY 31, 1904. J. A, SMITH. AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENTFOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1902. RENEWED 001'. a1. 1903.

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No. 761,419. PATENTED MAY 81, 1904. J. A. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.12,- 1902.RENEWED 00131. 1903.

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J. A. SMITH. AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 12, 1902. RENEWED OUT. 31. 1903.

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v 0.. W Fllll lll UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNA. SMITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH LYRAPHONECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,419, dated May 31,1904.

Application filed March 12, 1902.- Renewed October 31, 1908. Serial No.179,409. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Attachments for Pianos,of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to improvements inautomatic attachments forpianos.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient meansfor. automatically operating the key-levers of a piano.

The invention consists of the new and novel parts and combination ofparts hereinafter shown, described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a portion of my appa ratus with the casing partlybroken away to show the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 isplan view of aportion of my apparatus with the top of the casing removed, showing theinteriormechanism. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation, partly in section, showingthe keyboard-operating devices and their connected operating means. Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the tempo or timecontrolling mechanism-and other parts. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail viewshowing in part one of the composite fingers for operating thekeyboard-operating devices or levers. Fig.

'6 is an enlarged detail, in bottom plan view,

of portion of the wind-chest and its attached operating-wires. Fig. 7isadetail view showing a thumb-piece for operating the tempo or timecontrolling mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the applicationof an electric motor for driving the shoelever -operating cylinder andother parts of the apparatus. Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged detail viewsshowing a sliding lock for holding the expressionlever or finger-piecein its adjusted positions. In carrying out my invention I provide aseries of keyboard-operating devices or levers comprising a series oflevers 1, 2, and 3, and as such levers are the same throughout theentire set of keyboard-operating devices I have shown in the drawingsone set thereof only. (See especially Figs. 4: and 6.) The levers 1 aresuitably supported from the easing of the apparatus, and each of saidlevers is pivoted at about its center and adapted at one end to engagethe keys of the piano. Connected to the other ends of the levers 1 by aflexible connection 4:, such as a strip of leather or cloth, are thelevers 2, and to the under sides of the levers 2 the levers 3 areconnected by a piece of thin fiat spring metal 5. The levers 3 areprovided with a curved surface next adjacent the lever 2 for a purposepresently appearing. Secured to the lower end of levers 3 and dependingtherefrom is a curved arm 6, of wire or other suitable material, andsaid arm 6 terminates in a head 7. .The series of levers'l, 2, and 3 asthus constructed and jointed together I will herein designate ascomposite fingers, and they will hereinafter be so referred to as such.

Within the casing of the apparatus is suitably supported in uprights 8 alongitudinal bar 9, having an inclined surface 10, and upon thisinclined surface 10 there are secured a series of head-blocks 11, equalin number to the number of composite fingers. To the upper end of thesehead-blocks 11 the levers 3 of the composite fingers are pivoted, as at12, and Which lovers 3 normally rest upon said headblocks. To the lowerends of the head-blocks 11 are pivoted the levers 13, provided with thestops 1 1, engaging an extension 15 on the bar 9. The outer and extremeends of the levers 13 are connected to and are operated upon by thepuppets 16, arranged in suitable guides 17 the upper ends of saidpuppets being connected with rock-wires 18, (see Fig. 7,) arranged belowand in line with the pneumatics 19 of the wind-chest 20. Loosely hung tothe levers 13, as by pivots 21, are the shoelevers 22, carrying at theirlower ends the shoes 23, provided on their undersurfaces with a padding24, preferably constructed of cork, whereby a better frictional surfaceis obtained for a purpose presently appearing. The shoe-levers 22 arealso provided with frictional surfaces 22, upon which impinge the heads7 of the curved arms 6 and through which motion is eomn'iunicated to thecomposite fingers for operating the keys of the memo. The frictionalsurfaces of the shoes 23 24 constitute perfect arcs of circles of whichthe pivot's 21 are the centers, and said surfaces are covered with thecork padding excepting the extreme toes 25, which are left uncovered andare polished. The shoes 23 are adapted to be depressed into contact withthe cylinder 26, mounted in bearings in the uprights 8 and adapted to becontinuously rotated and constructed of a body or core of metal 27,wound with twine or cord 28, saturated with glue and a covering of cork29, glued to the fibers of the twine and turned perfectly true in alathe. These cork surfaces of the shoes and cylinder are especiallyadapted to furnish the greatest tractive power with the least pressure,whereby a forcible action is produced in the composite levers, andthereby a forcible touch of the levers 1 with the piano-keys isobtained.

The levers 13 are forced upward and held in their normal inactiveposition by springs 29, suitably supported upon a cross-piece 30,mounted in the casing, and stops 31 are also secured in said cross-piece30 and adapted to limit or govern the downward movement of the levers13. The stops 31 are preferably made adjustable in the cross-piece 30for the purpose of regulating the action of the levers 13.

An expression-bar 32 is suitably supported by means of spring-hinges33from an upright extension of the bar 9 and overhangs the levers 2 ofthe composite fingers and normally is held above said levers by itsspring-hinges, and said expression-bar is provided with an operating-rodor finger-piece 34, extending to the front of the casing in convenientreach of the operator, and by raising said finger-piece 34 vertically tobring the expression-bar 32 in closer proximity to the levers 2 theflcxure of the connection between the levers 2 and 3 is reduced and amore direct action of lever 3 to the lever 1 is produced, and thereby alouder tone obtained. this means it will be observed that expression ina piece of mu sic can easily be produced by simply manipulating thefinger-piece at the proper times.

The mechanism for rotating the cylinder 26 and operating the bellows 35(see Figs. 1 and 4) consists of the main shaft 36, carrying thedriving-pulley 37 and a crank 38. A belt 39, adapted to communicatemotion from the periphery of the driving-pulley 37 to the rotatingcylinder 26 through its pulley 40, fastened upon its shaft, and a crank38 to operate the bellows 35 through the pitman 41, the main shaft 36deriving its motion, which should be of suitable uniform speed, from anyavailable source of power.

\Vhile the cylinder 26 and the bellows 35 should have a uniform rate ofspeed, the musicsheet 42 must travel at a variable speed, governable fortempo effects, and to produce tempo effects the take-up rolls 43, uponwhich the music-sheet 42 is wound as it is drawn from its spool 3 overthe tracker 44, is provided at one end with a pulley 45, adapted to beengaged by and receive motion from the small pulley 46 on the shaft 47,whose opposite end carries the pulley 48, operated by the belt 49,having frictional contact with and receiving its motion from thedisk-face 50 (see Fig. 1) of the driving-pulley 37. A pressurepulley 51,drawn by a spring 52 toward the pulley 37, serves to firmly press thebelt 49 against the disk-face of pulley 37. The pressure-pulley 51 has awide face equal to the distance from near the shaft 36 to the pcripheryof the pulley 37 and is carried upon a swinging-bracket 53, suitablyhung in the casing. The belt 49, movingin the direction indicated by thearrows, Figs. 1 and 4, is guided by a shifter 54, having an eye 54engaging said belt to any position along the disk-face of the pulley 37,either near the shaft 36, where its motion is very slow, or away fromit, where its motion is increased. The shifter 54 is connected with andoperated by the tempo-lever 55, suitably located at the front of thecasing and pivoted within the casing and extending through an elongatedopening 55 therein and connected to the shifter 54 by means of a slidingrod 56 and an adjustable connection 56. The disk-face of the pulley 37is covered with leather or other suitable material adapted to exerttractive power upon the belt 49.

The take-up or winding-roll pulley 45 and its engaging drive-pulley 46are preferably frictional, although gear-wheels might be substitutedtherefor. The shaft 47 has a swinging bearing 47(see Fig. 4) near thepulley 46, held in engagement with the pulley 45 by a spring 56". Agoverning-stop 57, connected to a pivoted lever 58, having its free endimpinging between the pulley 59 on the frame and a pulley 60 on theswinging shaft 47, is adapted to be pushed in when the travel of themusic-sheet 42 is to be stopped and is pulled out when started. Theoperation of the stop 57, if pushed in to its limit, is to move thepulley 46 out of engagement with pulley 45 and hold ittherc; but if thestop be only partly pushed in the spring 56" will force the engagementof the pulleys again as soon as the hand is moved from the stop. Thegoverningstop 57 not only serves the purpose of starting and stoppingthe travel of the music-sheet 42, but having been pushed in to itslimitis adapted to be moved sidewise to bring into action the rewindi-ngmechanism, which comprises a pulley 61, loosely mounted on the shaft 47next the pulley 48, a coil-spring 62 being interposed between saiduilleys to keep them a suitable distance apart. A belt 63 connects thepulley 61 with a pulley 64, fast on a shaft 65, suitably mounted in theframe. To the other end of said shaft is secured a pulley 66,communicating a reverse or rewinding motion to the roll-carryingbraeket67 through a belt 68 and pulley 69. The pulleys 48 and 61 are providedon their adjacent faces with' lugs or projections 48 and 61,respectively, adapted to engage one another when the pulley 61 is forcedtoward the pulley 48 by means of a push-piece 7 0 engaging the hub ofsaid pulley 61, the said push-piece being connected to one end of arock-shaft 71, suitably ar ranged in bearings 72 7 2 in the casing orframe, the other end of said rock-shaft being connected by aconnecting-rod 73 with the stop 57, whereby upon moving the stop 57laterally the rewinding mechanism is set into operation. The sidewisemovement of the stop 57 is prevented, except when the stop is pushed into its limit, by a stop 7 4 in the connecting-rod 73 engaginga lug 75,attached to a fixed or immovable part of the case or frame.

(See Fig. 2.)

Just above the tempo-lever 55 and in close proximity to it I provide alever 76, secured to the front of the case, and which I term a hold. Itsfunction is when pressed against the case to engage a rod 7 7, extendingthrough the case, and which is connected with the lever 58, engaging theswinging bearing of the shaft 47, and thus slightly moves the pulley 46out of engagement with the pulley 45, temporarily stopping the take-uproller, and consequently the travel of the musicsheet,so long as thehold 7 6 is pressed back and without stopping the sheet-windingmechanism. The spring 56 forces the engagement of the pulleys again, andthe movement of the musicsheet resumes as soon as the pressure upon thehold is removed.

The tempo-lever 55 may be rigidly fastened to the rod 56 of the shifterand move bodily with it to the right or the left in the opera tion ofshifting the belt 49; but I prefer the form and means of connectionshown in Fig. 2, the tempo-lever being'fulcrumed to the frame at itsrear end and attached by a connecting-rod 56 to the shifter-rod 56, approximately near its center, thus giving the forward end I greater rangeof sidewise movement, requiring less force to operate it and insuringgreater delicacy in governing the tempo.

V For convenience in controlling the operations or manipulations of thetempo-lever55, the expression-lever 34, and the hold 7 6 I group orarrange them near together at the front of the apparatus, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the tempo-lever being adapted to be swung to theright or left by the thumb supported in the U-shaped thumb-rest with theexpression-lever underneath having vertical movement, the spring of theexpressionbar keeping it (the expression-lever) normally in its lowestposition for soft tone and adapted to be moved upward by a finger forlouder tone and the hold just above the tempolever and within easy reachof the thumb when it is desired to effect a hold or pause. I alsoprovide an auxiliary expressionlever 78, which operates a slide 7 9 onthe inside of the front board of the case, (shown in detail in Figs. 9and 10,) said slide having an inclined edge 80, on which theexpression-lever 34 may be made to rest at any desired position for thepurpose of producing uniform tones of mediumvolume or any between thesoftest' and the loudest of the instrument being played upon.

It will readily be understood from the foregoing description of theaction of the expression-bar 32 upon the levers 2 that instantaneouschanges from soft 'to loud, or vice versa, or any shading. of the accentand expression may be produced by the proper use and manipulation of theexpression-lever 34.

Each of the series of pneumatics 19, one for each key to be operated andeach in line with its respective key, is. reached by the outside air toinflate it through a hole in the foundation or top boardof thewind-chest 20, on the under side of which the pneumatics 19 lie. On thetop side of this wind-chest 20 a removable duct-board 81 is screwed,having a series of holes coincident and communicating with the holesthrough the foundation-board leading to the pneumatics.

The tracker 44 embodies a series of apertures 44, in number equal to thenumber of pneumatics to be inflated by the passage of air through themand arranged on a scale to correspond with the several lines ofperforations in the musicsheets that are to be used. In the face of thetracker over which the music-sheet passes these apertures 44 are quitenarrow, increasing in-width until the opposite side is reached, whenthey are about as wide as long. (See Figs. 8 and 14.) The severalapertures are separated by very thin wedgeshaped partitions 44 Into thelower portion of each aperture a flexible tube 82 is cemented, andthence carried to and cemented in its corresponding hole in theduct-board 81, thus securing free and independent passage of the outerair to'each pneumatic through its respective aperture 44, duct 82, andholes through duct-board 81 and foundation-board 20, governable by thetravel of the perforated music sheet 42 over the tracker 44. The tracker44 is rigidly maintained in its proper position laterally and withreference to its height by the supports 83 secured to it, their lowerends being screwed to the duct-board 81, the forward side of the trackerresting against the board 84, which is a longitudinal part of theroll-frame.

The music-sheet ,42 and its spool 42 and the take-up roll 43 rest in theframe 85.

To provide means for playing the several to embrace all the keys used inplaying the music having the greatest compass, and in addition I includeone or more notes both above and below to permit transposition withoutthe loss of any of the higher or lower notes. For the notes above andbelow the range of such music as has asmaller compass I make a slidecut-off valve 88 in the ductboard 81, each being individuallyindependent, and having a stop connection 88 for closing or opening theair passage or passages, as shown in detail in Fig. 10.

In Fig. l l have shown a relief-valve 92 for relieving the apparatus ofpressure of the bellows during the rewinding of the musicsheet. Thevalve 92 is connected to and adapt-- ed to be opened by the rock-shaft71 of the shifting mechanism for the pulley 61 in the operation ofrewinding. The valve 92 is held to its seat to close the relief'openingin the wind-chest by a spring 93.

The operation of my apparatus may be described briefiy as follows: Powerbeing applied to rotate the cylinder 26 in the direction of the arrow(see Figs. 1 and 3) and to start the wind apparatus, the shoe-levers aredepressed into contact with said cylinder and set into operation thekeyboard-operating levers through the medium of the composite fingers,as will be already understood from the above description. WVhen theshoes come into contact with the cylinder rotating in the directionindicated by the arrow, they being forced into such contact by thepneumatics acting on the rock-wires 18, which in turn exert their forceon the puppets 16, thereby depressing the levers 13, carrying theshoelevers 22, the said shoe-levers communicate their motion to thecomposite fingers, and thereby actuate the keys of the piano. W henmotion is communicated to the shoe-levers 22 caused by the shoes 23coming into contact with the revolving cylinder 26, the curved arms 6will be raised, which in turn raise the levers 3. As the levers 3 moveupwardly they carry the lovers 2 with them, causing the rear ends of thesaid levers 2 to impinge against and raise the front ends of the levers1, thereby forcing the rear ends of the latter down against the keys ofthe piano. it will be seen that as the flat metal spring 5 is connectedby one end to the under surface of the levers 2, and by the other end tothe upper surfaces of the levers 3, the front ends of the levers 2arefree to move up and down, the movement of the said front ends beinggoverned by the expression-bar 32, which determines the force of theblow of the levers 1 upon the keys of the pianothat is to say, when thegreatest degree of force upon the piano-key is desired the bar 32 isheld firmly down upon the front ends of the levers 2 by means of thefinger-piece 34, thereby allowing only the rear ends of the levers 2 tobe raised; but when the bar 32 is raised the front ends of the levers 2are then held in position only by the tension of the springs 5, whichlatter then govern the force with which the levers 1 strike the pianokeys. The degree of force with which the levers 1 strike the keys of thepiano decreases according to the distance the bar 32 is raised from thelevers 2. After an action of the pneumatic and of the other partsresulting therefrom, as just described, the lever 13 is returned to itsnormal position by the force of the spring 29, lifting shoe-lever 22,and thus releasing shoe 23 from contact with the cylinder, when by theirown gravity and the operation of the piano-action shoe 23 and theelements of the composite lingers also resume their normal positions,and the mechanism is ready fora repetition of the operation.

It will be observed that the lovers 1 of the composite fingers arepivoted or 'f'ulcrumed near their centers, their rear arms extendingover the keys they are to operate, while their forward ends rest uponand receive impulse from the levers 2, as shown. These levers 2 supplythe elastic quality of the composite fingers, as shown in Fig. 6. Theflexibleeonnections or springs 5 are attached to the under sides of thelevers 2 near their rear ends, thence extending forward, their forwardends secured to the cooperating lever These springs are adjusted to hugthe under side of their levers 2 with suflicient force only to cause alight elastic stroke to the lever 1 and through them to the keys of thepiano with a gentle touch, but with suflieient force to produce a cleartone.

\Vhen the apparatus is operated, driven either by a crank attached tothe shaft 36 or by the electric motor, (shown in Fig. 11,) the operatorplaces'the thumb in the thumb-rest of the tempo-lever 55, a linger underthe expression-lever 34, the hold 76 being within easy reach of thethumb to effect a short pause in the travel of the music-sheet, in whichposition he has perfect control with one hand of the several devices forgoverning the expression, tempo, and hold. The stop 57 for starting,stom'iing, and rewinding may be manipulated by either hand. Thisoperation is independent from expression or tempo.

Any degree of force or stroke between the extremes may be obtained bymoving the expression-lever to the position giving the de sired resultand maintaining it there by slide 79, controlled by lever 78.

If the operator wishes to give accent and expression to the music, itmay be done by keeping the finger on the expression-lever and governingthe force of each succeeding tone or chord, as taste and judgment maydictate.

The desired effects in the music being played may be produced accordingto the feeling of' the operator, or they may be produced by reading themarks of expression on a copy of the piece of music being played by theattachment.

Ia Fig. 8 I have shown an electric motor 94 for driving the cylinder 26,said motor being suitably mounted in bearings attached to the casing andlocated directly beneath the baseboard of the casing and connected witha pulley 95 on the end of-the cylinder by means of a belt 96 engaging apulley 97 on the motorshaft. The cylinder 26 is provided with adjustablebearings 98, whereby it may-be adjusted with relation to the shoes 23 tosecure proper contact of said shoes with the cylinder. A crank-rod 99extends from thefront of the casing to the rear thereof and is providedwith suitable connections with the key-levers for raising saidkey-levers away from the keyboard when it is desired to remove theattachment from the piano, whereby injury to the key-levers andtheirattachments is avoided.

The tempo-lever 55, as herein shown, is provided with a U-shapedthumb-piece, either constructed integrally therewith, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, or made as a separate piece v pivoted thereto, as shown in Fig.9 and as hereinbefore described, and I wish it to be understood thatsaid tempo-lever and its U- shaped thumb-rest not only serve the purposeof shifting the tempo mechanism, but also serve as a support for thehand, the thumb resting thereupon when the fingers are being used tomanipulate the other parts of the apparatus.

All the new and novel parts and combination of parts herein shown anddescribed, but

not claimed, are made part of and are claimed in a separate applicationfiled March 12, 1902, Serial No. 97,836.

Having thus "described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an automaticattachment for pianos,

keyboard-operating devices constructed as,

composite fingers, comprising a series of levers 1, 2, and 3, and aflatmetal spring 5, having one end secured to the lever 2 and the oppositeend secured to the lever 3, and normally impinging against said levers 2and 3 throughout its entire length, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic attachment for pianos, keyboard operating devicesconstructed as composite fingers, comprising a series of levers, 1, 2,and, 3, and aflat metal spring 5, hav-- ing one end secured to the undersurface of lever 2, at or near the rear end thereof, and the oppositeend secured'to the upper surface of lever 3, at or near the front endthereof, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thekeyboard-operating devices, constructed as composite fingers 1, 2, and3,, and spring 5, between said levers 2 and 3, of an expression-bar 32arranged above the levers 2; and a lever 34: connecting saidexpression-bar and extending through the front of the casing,substantially as described.

4. In an automatic attachment for pianos, keyboard-operating devicesconstructed as composite fingers, comprising a series of levers 1, 2 and3, and flexible connections for said levers, the said lever 3 beingprovided with a curved active face adjacent the lever 2, substantiallyas described.

5. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thecylinder 26 and the shoe-levers 22 23, of keyboard-operating devicesconstructed as composite fingers, comprising a series of levers 1, 2 and3, and flexible connections therefor, and a depending arm secured to thelever 3, and adapted to impinge against said shoe-levers, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

6. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thecylinder 26, the shoe-levers 22 23, and means for causing the shoes ofsaid shoe-levers to contact with said cylinder, of keyboard-operatingdevices constructed as composite fingers, each comprising a series oflevers 1, 2 and 3, and flexible connections therefor, and a dependingarm secured to the lever 3 and adapted to impinge j against saidshoe-levers, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thekeyboard-operating devices, constructed as composite fingers,com prisinga series of levers 1, 2 and 3, and flexible connections therefor, andthe cylinder 26, and shoe-levers22, for operating said fingers, of anexpression-bar arranged above the levers 2 and adapted to limit themovement of said levers, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination of thecylinder 26; keyboardoperating devices constructed as composite fingers,each comprising a series of levers 1, 2 and 3, and flexible connectionstherefor; depending arms 6 secured to the levers 3, and adapted toimpinge against the shoe-levers; and an expression-bar 32 arranged abovesaid levers 2 adapted to be adjusted with relation thereto to limit themovement of said levers, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thekeyboard-operating devices, constructed as composite fingers, eachcomprising a series of levers 1, 2 and 3, flexi ble connectionstherefor, and means consisting of the cylinder 26, shoe-levers 22, anddepending arms 6, for operating said composite fingers, of anexpression-bar arranged above the levers 2, and a finger-piece connectedto said expression-bar extending through the front of the casing,whereby said expressionbar may be adjusted with relation to the levers 2to limit the movement of said levers, substantially as described.

10. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination of thecylinder 26; shoe-levers'22; depending arms 6; keyboard-operatingdevices constructed as composite fingers,

IIO

consisting of a series of lovers 1, 2 and 3, and a flat springconnecting the levers 2 and 3; and an expression-bar 32 arranged aboveand adapted to limit the movement of the levers 2, substantially asdescribed.

11. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thesheet-winding 1n echanism and means for permanently stopping andrestarting the same, of a lever 77 having one end projecting through thefront of the case and means at the opposite end to throw the windingmechanism out of gear for temporarily stopping and continuing the music,whereby short stops or pauses in the music being played may be produced,substantially as described.

12. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the take-up roller providedwith the frictionpulley 45, combined with sheet-winding mechanism,comprising the swinging shaft L? having a driving-pulley at one end andat its swinging end provided with the pulley 46 engaging the pulley 45on the winding-roll, a pivoted lever 58 provided with means extendingoutside of the casing to move said lever to cause it to impinge betweena frictionroller on the frame and the swinging shaft, to therebydisengage the pulleys 15 and 46 to stop the winding, and means forreengaging said pulleys when the lever is withdrawn or released,substantially as described.

13. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thekeyboard-operating devices, constructed as composite fingers, eachcomprising a series of levers 1, 2 and 3, flexible connections therefor,and means for operating said composite fingers, of an expressionbararranged above the levers 2, and a fingerpieee connected to saidexpression-bar extending through the front of the casing, whereby saidexpression-bar may be adjusted with relation to the lovers 2 to limitthe movement of said levers, and a sliding lock provided with aninclined surface adapted to engage and support the finger-piece to holdthe expressionbar in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

14. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the stop 57 having meansconnected therewith which, when the said step is moved longitudinally,will effect the stopping and starting of the sheet-winding mechanism,and when moved laterally, will throw into operation the rewindingmechanism, substantially as described.

15. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the stop 57 having meansconnected therewith which, when the said stop is moved longitudinallywill effect the stopping and starting of the sheet-winding mechanism,and. when moved laterally, when pushed in, will throw into operation therewinding mechanism, and means to prevent lateral movement of the saidstop when it is pulled out to effect the starting of the sheet-windingmechanism, substantially as described.

16. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with acylinder provided with a cork surface, of a series of shoe-leversprovided with cork-faced shoes adapted to be brought into contact withthe said cylinder, and a series of keyboard-operating devicesconstructed as composite fingers consisting of the levers 1, 2 and 3,and a spring 5, having one end secured to the lever 2 and the oppositeend secured to the lever 3, substantially as described.

17. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thesheetwinding mechanism and the take-up roller, of a rod having one endprojecting through the case and adapted to throw the sheet-windingmechanism out of gear with the take-up roller, when pushed in, fortemporarily stopping the travel of the music-sheet, whereby short stopsor pauses in the music being played may be produced.

18. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thesheetwinding mechanism and the take-up roller, of a rod having one endprojecting through the case and means at the opposite end which when thesaid rod is pushed in will stop the take-up roller without stopping thesheet-winding mechanism, whereby short stops or pauses may be produced.

19. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thesheet-winding mechanism and the take-up roller. of a rod having one endprojecting through the case and means at the other end which when thesaid rod is pushed in will stop the take-up roller; and means to returnthe said rod to its normal position when released by the operator,whereby short steps or pauses in the music being played may be produced.

20. In an automatic attachment for pianos, the combination with thesheet-winding mechanism, including the take-up roller, of a stopprojecting through the front of the case and having means connectedtherewith which, when the said stop is pushed in, will temporarilydisconnect the take-up roller from its source of propulsion so long asthe stop is held pressed in, and means for returning the said stop toits normal position when released to allow the take-up roller to againcome into connection with its source of propulsion, as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN A. SMITH. IVitnesses:

CIIAPIN A. FERGUSON, IVILMnu EMORY.

